Paul Krueger is a trumpeter, composer, arranger, and educator, and the Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance where he leads the Oregon Jazz Ensemble and teaches courses in jazz pedagogy and jazz arranging, as well as lessons in jazz trumpet, improvisation, and composition/arranging.

A versatile trumpeter and improviser, Krueger has also published numerous works for large jazz ensemble. A three-time winner of a Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award, his music has been performed internationally by artists such as Steve Wilson, Kendrick Scott, and Eric Alexander, and he performs frequently in the Pacific Northwest. 

Inspired by his parents—both accomplished music educators—Krueger has established himself as a dedicated and dynamic leader in music education. Before joining the faculty at the University of Oregon, he served as trumpet instructor at Willamette University and as a music instructor at Lane Community College. His students and ensembles have received national recognition including multiple honors from the prestigious DownBeat Magazine Student Music Awards. Among these, the Oregon Jazz Ensemble was recognized for outstanding performance in the Graduate School Large Jazz Ensemble category, while the Lane Jazz Ensemble was named the winner in the Community College Large Jazz Ensemble category.

Outside of his academic commitments, he is dedicated to engaging with students in the community and fostering a love for jazz and improvisation among youth. He is highly sought-after as a clinician and holds key roles such as the director of the UO Summer Jazz Improvisation Camp, co-director of the Oregon Jazz Festival, and director of the UO Day of Improvisation, an annual, free one-day workshop tailored for high school students. He has served as the director for multiple honors ensembles, including the Oregon Jazz Festival All-Star Big Band and the Montana All-State Jazz Ensemble. 

Krueger holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2009), and a Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Oregon (2011).